‘But you’re like a married couple!’ ‘Don’t you think you’re wasting your youth? and ‘Why get serious when you’re so young?’ are all responses I’ve heard when telling someone I live with my boyfriend at the age of 21.

They become even more prominent when I tell them I moved in with my partner when I was just 19.

People look at me as though I’m mad, that I’m ‘wasting’ a good part of my 20s when I could be living young, free and un-attached.

Or simply attached, with breathing space – aka still living with our parents or apart, as such.

But I don’t regret moving in with my partner at a young age one bit.

I was never a student, I never went to university, because to put it simply, I decided I didn’t want to. I applied and I was accepted – but when it came to it I felt as though I wouldn’t be really happy.

A big part for many students is living independently, in halls, with new friends. Going out and having fun, doing what you want, when you want and turning up for lectures hungover ready for the next student night.

And while that does all sound amazing, and I do enjoy a good night out – it just wasn’t for me.

(Picture: Liberty Antonia Sadler fot Metro.co.uk)

I wasn’t interested in partying all the time.

I didn’t want to get myself into a whole load of debt if I was only going to enjoy half of the university experience. So for that reason, I wasn’t interested in staying in halls.

But I also didn’t want to continue living at home during my studies – I wanted my own place.

And so I decided I’d work, and save up for my own place while doing so.

I had been with my partner for a year at this point, and we spent most nights together.

So much so that after much discussion, we decided it’d just be simpler and cheaper for us to move out together

Of course it wasn’t a decision that came lightly, and it was one that was very much questioned by those closest to us but we knew what we wanted, and we were going to go for it.

So we did.

We got a really cute two bedroom loft apartment which we loved. But I’ll admit, it wasn’t easy living together at first.

We fought over the bills, over who was going to do the cooking and washing up each night and over who was pulling more of their weight around the home.

But we got used to it and we got used to each other.

(Picture: Liberty Antonia Sadler fot Metro.co.uk)

You see, when you’re young and living with your partner, people seem to think you automatically become this married couple who only do things together.

But that’s just not the case.

At my age, I still want to go out clubbing and have drinks with my friends without my partner. And he appreciates that.

Just like I appreciate he likes to go to the gym, have the living room to himself to play Xbox and have a beer with his mates.

We need that breathing space and we appreciate it. It makes the times we do spend together even more fun, knowing we’ve had those breaks to just be with other people for a change.

Living together doesn’t mean you’re literally joined at the hip

And it doesn’t mean that moving in with someone is going to take away your youth.

Since first moving in with my partner back in 2014, we have lived in three different places together, and I feel living in each of these places has taught us many things.

We have learned to become independent, to respect our property and to get used to that part of life that is housework and chores.

(Picture: Liberty Antonia Sadler fot Metro.co.uk)

Sure, they suck, but it’s either do it or you live in a sh*thole.

And trust me, I’ve learned that from experience (it’s hard when you first move out, okay?)

We have found a great amount respect for our parents as we came to realise how much we both took for granted whilst living with them – having them do our washing and cooking, for example.

This is something that many people who don’t move out of their parent’s homes don’t realise until later on in life.

The truth is, living with my partner at this age has been amazing for me

We have shared countless nights up late watching movies, we have so many memories that just come from decorating our home together, knowing that these memories are ours – fully ours, made in our own space filled with our own things.

And you know, it’s just so nice going out for a meal or to the cinema or on a date-night to say to your partner ‘Shall we go home?’ instead of talking about who’s going to stay where.

It’s nice having something that belongs to you as a couple.

We can do whatever we want when we want – without having to arrange dates or cancel plans on other people because we double-booked.

I’ve learned to live with someone that I love and I wouldn’t change my first moving out experience for the world. It is something that you always remember, and I’m so glad I got to share that with someone who really means something to me.

(Picture : Ella Byworth for Metro.co.uk)

Sure, anything can happen at any time, but I really don’t think age should define when you’re ready for something or not.

I don’t think a young person should be mocked for wanting to live with their partner, or told they’re ‘stupid because it won’t last’ just because they’re not mid-way through their 20s – or older.

I think that only you can know if you’re ready for something, and only you can do something about that.

If you want to go to university, go for it. If you want to work and live on your own, you do that.

And if you want your first moving out experience to be with someone you love, wonderful.

That’s all that should matter – not whether other people think you’re ‘old enough’ or ‘wise enough’.

The way I see it, if you have enough money to pay the rent (which is way easier when split in two) and living with your partner while you’re young is something you want to experience – make it happen, and enjoy it.